Extended follow-up of lung cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease mortality among California diatomaceous earth workers

Abstract

The risk of lung cancer and NMRD mortality remained elevated, although generally non-significant, and exposure-response trends with cumulative crystalline silica persisted on extended follow-up of this cohort. The findings support a generally consistently observed aetiological relation between crystalline silica and lung cancer.

Estimating Counterfactual Risk Under Hypothetical Interventions in the Presence of Competing Events: Crystalline Silica Exposure and Mortality From 2 Causes of Death

“…Although smoking information was available for 50% of the workers in the present study, information on smoking intensity or duration were not available; thus we relied on ever/never-smoker classification for confounding control. Smoking should certainly be considered a common cause of both events of interest (as well as all-cause mortality) and also appears to be a positive confounder in this cohort (4). Inability to fully adjust for smoking could result in potential residual confounding.…”

“…Work histories and silica exposure assessments were available from the beginning of plant operations (1902 for one plant and 1946 for the other) through 1994. Mortality follow-up was based on data from the National Death Index, state driver’s license bureaus, and commercial credit bureaus (4) and was available from January 1, 1942, to December 31, 2011, for a maximum follow-up time of 70 years. Complete mortality follow-up was not available for 183 participants.…”

The Australian Work Exposures Study: Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica

“…(IARC, 2012) Besides silicosis and lung cancer, cumulative low level exposure to RCS increases the risk of other non-malignant respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and emphysema and possibly non-malignant renal disease. (Steenland, 2005, Gallagher et al, 2015, Rushton, 2007, McDonald et al, 2005 The main source of RCS exposure is occupational. Internationally, the established occupations with high exposure are sandblasters, miners, millers, ceramics workers, glassmakers, quarry workers, sand/stone grinding workers, and casting, shakeout or blasting workers.…”

Determination and Prediction of Respirable Dust and Crystalline-Free Silica in the Taiwanese Foundry Industry

“…Many studies have reported on the association between exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and adverse health effects, including silicosis, lung cancer, non-malignant respiratory disease, and possibly kidney disease [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the scientific literature and designated crystalline silica (i.e., quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite) as a Group 1 human carcinogen [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”